How does tooth whitening work?

How does tooth whitening work?

02/03/2022

Our tooth whitening Burnham is tailored to meet the needs of your aesthetic specifications. When we carry out a pre-assessment, we will discuss your goals and what the target shade is before looking at the nature of the darkening and what the most effective treatment options would be.

Types of dental staining

There are different types of dental staining, which fall into two broad categories; intrinsic and extrinsic staining. Extrinsic is caused by material attaching itself to the outside of the teeth; the underneath is unchanged, but the shade of the tooth appears darker. This is in much the same way as a paint alters the colour of a wall, but is only stuck to the surface of it.

Intrinsic staining is caused by compounds permeating into the enamel and chemically altering the structure itself and therefore how it interacts with light. This penetration may only be by a few micrometres, but it is still much deeper into the enamel, it is more analogous to the way cloth is changed during the dying process.

Abrasion methods

Abrasion methods work by using very small high speed discs to remove any exterior material and the outermost micron. A half a micron of enamel is freshly exposed and the enamel is then buffed. It is much like the resurfacing of an oak floor or table top but applied to your teeth!

It is an excellent way of removing extrinsic staining that could be lightened with other techniques but would still be present causing a rough texture to your teeth. It has the disadvantage of thinning and no more, which although can be mitigated by the skill of our staff, will still mean some enamel will be lost and if you already suffer from acid erosion, abrasion methods would be inappropriate.

Chemical whitening methods

Chemical whiterning is more common and we have to use the B1 whitening system for tooth whitening Burnham. It is an oxygen based system that uses hydrogen peroxide in the same way as hair dye.

Ingredients are placed into a individually crafted tray which is one placed over the teeth; this maximises the contact between the gel and teeth, whilst minimising exposure to the sensitive gum tissue. Chemical methods can be used both in our clinic and at home. This treatment is much faster, but the same changing shade can be achieved at home. It would just take a series of overnight sessions. Some patients prefer this slower alteration in shade as the results are more of a natural transition.

Considerations before starting treatment

If your teeth are starting in poor condition, tooth whitening Burnham shouldn’t be your first priority. The appearance of your teeth could be greatly improved with a simple scale and polish and performing any lightening techniques whilst there are cavities or active decay would be ineffective and the results short lived.A standard dental check-up is included as part of the pre-treatment for lightening and we will advise you further if there are underlying conditions that need to be addressed before pursuing cosmetic procedures.